We’ve all been there, standing in the aisle of a store, spending way too much time weighing the small differences between two similar products.
Will the more expensive sleeping bag really perform better than the less expensive one? When it comes to noise-canceling headphones, is $450 too much, too little, or just right?
Here’s some help. Throughout the year, MarketWatch looked at sets of two similar consumer products, and assessed the better buy.
The survey looked at a wide variety of goods, including heart-rate monitors, paper shredders and carry-on luggage.
To aid in your holiday shopping, here are eight suggestions.
GPS heart rate monitor watch
• Worth it: Garmin Forerunner 610 ($400).
Those extra cookie pounds aren’t going to disappear on their own. This heart-rate-monitor watch with GPS has a weatherproof touchscreen that can be used while wearing gloves and lets runners wirelessly upload workouts and track them online.
• Not worth it: Timex Ironman Global Trainer With GPS ($360).
The Ironman must be plugged in to a computer to sync — and access to the advanced features of its partner exercise-tracking website costs up to $120 a year.
Timex says its customers get more free features than other users of the site.
— Kate Poole
Noise-canceling headphones
• Worth it: Sennheiser MM 450 ($450).
Unlike most noise-canceling headphones, this pair doesn’t render wearers completely clueless to the outside world. A button activates an external microphone that pipes in outside sound, and Bluetooth technology lets people take phone calls or listen to music cord-free.
• Not worth it: Bose Quiet Comfort 3 ($350).
People using these headphones with a tablet will need a separate mobile kit. Unlike the Sennheisers, the Bose pair doesn’t continue to play music if the battery for the noise-canceling function is dead. The company says the headphones aren’t designed for use without noise-canceling.
— Linda Lacina
Carry-on luggage
• Worth it: Rimowa Salsa Deluxe Cabin Multiwheel ($595).
Of course, sticking with luggage, the traditional graduation gift, doesn’t have to be a snore. This sleek, 22-inch tall, 16-inch wide polycarbonate case weighs in at less than 8 pounds and comes in four colors. The Rimowa also has gel-infused handles to help ward off blisters. An added bonus: 360-degree wheels let it pivot in any direction.
• Not worth it: Zero Halliburton Zeroller Carry On ($750).
The aluminum shell on this slightly smaller suitcase (21 inches tall and 13 inches wide) bumps it up to 12 pounds, and getting a similar model with multidirectional wheels costs an extra $100. Zero Halliburton says its customers prioritize durability and that the bag should last 30 to 40 years.
— Tania Karas
Sleeping bags
• Worth it: Feathered Friends Hummingbird ($380).
Even summer nights can get nippy if you’re sleeping on the ground. This hooded, mummy-style sleeping bag is a slim 29-inches wide, designed to seal in body heat and fend off nature’s chill. With a water-resistant exterior, it weighs just under 2 pounds and folds down to the size of a book.
• Not worth it: Marmot Pinnacle 15 ($360).
This bag is more than a pound heavier and doesn’t have a water-resistant shell. It’s also nearly 5 inches wider, which experts say can make for colder nights, because more body heat will be needed to warm up the extra space. Marmot says its roomier bags are meant to fit all body sizes.
— Tania Karas
Portable grills
• Worth it: Coleman Road Trip Grill LXE ($190).
Why settle for franks over the campfire when you could have steaks on the grill? This 44-pound gas model folds up to about suitcase size, with wheels and a built-in handle for easy maneuvering. Its double burners allow alfresco chefs to cook multiple dishes at different temperatures.
• Not worth it: Char-Broil Grill2Go Ice Real Tree Portable ($200).
We hope you’ve been working out: This single-burner gas grill with built-in coolers weighs 70 pounds and is nearly a foot longer and taller than the Coleman when collapsed. Char-Broil is made for outdoor people with large, rugged vehicles.
— Linda Lacina
Sound-bar systems
• Worth it: Vizio VHT215 ($270).
If the neighbors aren’t complaining, then your home theater isn’t loud enough. A sound bar can fix that. This sleek model has two inputs for HDMI (high-definition multimedia interface) devices, a remote that controls bass and treble, and a front-panel volume display.
• Not worth it: Boston Acoustics TVee Model 25 ($350).
This sound bar, which has no front volume display or HDMI inputs, doesn’t work well with all TVs, experts say. The company acknowledges that some flat-screens don’t support its technology, but says its sound quality puts cheaper models to shame.
— Saumya
Vaishampayan
Bathroom scales
• Worth it: Withings WiFi Body Scale ($160).
Are you ready for beach season? Find out with this scale, which measures weight, fat mass and body-mass index. The scale automatically uploads your stats to the Web via Wi-Fi, and it helps users convert that data into spreadsheets to share with nutritionists or doctors.
• Not worth it: Alessi’s SG75 Scale ($180).
This stainless-steel scale is light on features; unlike many others in this price range, it only measures weight. The firm says the scale is intended to be “minimalist” and that its durable material and aesthetic set it apart from models with more capabilities.
— Linda Lacina
Paper shredders
• Worth it: Fellowes’ MS-450Cs Micro-Cut Shredder ($180).
This device chops documents into strands 10 times smaller than many cross-cut models do — keeping your private data between you and the IRS. The company says it can rip through even staples and credit cards in near silence.
• Not worth it: Staples’ 30-Sheet Strip-Cut Shredder ($170).
This strip-cut model doesn’t offer quite the security of cross-cut shredders, since the strips can be reassembled. The company says the device can handle more paper than other models and is designed for high-volume, but lower-security tasks.
— Linda Lacina